Introduction

When we moved to Apple Valley in 2015, one of our first priorities was finding a house. Our house in MI was already in escrow, so we set up several viewings right away. We soon found the house we wanted. I called my realtor in MI and made sure everything was moving along with our escrow there because we wanted to make an offer.

He said to go for it, so we did, and our offer was accepted! We were very excited, and everything here was moving along well. We figured we would have our new house by the middle of July. But it wasn’t to be. Our MI escrow drug on and on.

By early August, everything was done on our AV house, and the bank was getting antsy. We had to pay for an extension, and then we waited and waited for what seemed like forever. I was scared that we would lose the house and have to start over.

Finally, on Labor Day weekend, we got word that our MI escrow was done, the money was on its way, and we could close here. We were so happy and so relieved, and from there everything easily and quickly fell into place.

Have you ever been through something like that? You want something so badly, but you hit wall after wall, and it drags on and on. That’s exactly what we have seen in Ezra. When Cyrus gave the Jews permission to go home and build their temple, they were thrilled. They surely began dreaming about having their temple back and worshipping in the presence of God. They wanted it now.

But it didn’t happen as fast as the Jews had hoped. They faced hurdle after hurdle and delay after delay. It was surely tempting to lose hope, especially when the construction site sat idle for almost 16 years. But last week we saw in Ezra 5 that God reinvigorated the work through the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah, and the people responded.

But they faced another hurdle when Tattenai the governor showed up to make sure this was a sanctioned, legitimate project. Therefore, we ended with him sending a letter to the new king, Darius asking if he should let the project continue. The Jews waited anxiously. Will he shut down the project for good, or will he let it continue? Will God open a way, or will things remain hard?

Thankfully, all that anxiety turns to joy in Ezra 6 as Darius sends a very positive response, the temple gets finished, and worship is fully restored. It was a massively significant moment. God did it. He fulfilled his promises and demonstrated that he is sovereign and faithful. In the process, God reminds us we can also trust his character. He is still sovereign and faithful; therefore, we can obey his will. It all begins in vv. 1–12 where…

I.  God moved the king (vv. 1–12).

Darius found the decree (vv. 1–5). Again, Ezra 5 left off with the ominous letter that Tattenai sent to King Darius asking if he should allow the Jews to continue building. As I said last week, Darius had just finished putting down multiple revolts, so this letter catches his attention, and he issues a decree to search the royal archives and determine if Cyrus had sanctioned the project as the Jews claimed.

And God is moving because they found the decree in the fortress at Ecbatana. As a side note, this detail about Ecbatana is a fascinating proof of the Bible’s accuracy. This is because archaeological records prove that the Persian kings spent their winters in the warm climate of Babylon and their summers in the mountains of Ecbatana.

Specifically, we know that Cyrus went to Ecbatana in the spring of 538 shortly before he issued this decree. If a forger invented this story from Jerusalem 100+ years later, he wouldn’t know that sort of detail. The fact that he knew this detail reaffirms the fact that this is accurate history.

So, the officials searched, and they found Cyrus’s decree from 20 years prior. It’s recorded for us in vv. 3–5, and it proved that Cyrus had given the Jews permission to rebuild their temple. He also decreed that the Persians would pay for it, which of course is a big deal. And he returned the vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had stolen.

This was a big find! Afterall, we all know how stuff like this can conveniently disappear. But it didn’t. Darius found the decree. And God continues to work in the decree that Darius sends in response.

Darius provided for the work (vv. 6–12). Specifically, he grants 3 generous blessings.

Permission (vv. 6–7): Remember that Tattenai had asked if he should shut down the project. Darius answers with a resounding no. He says, “Keep away from there. Leave…” That’s exactly what the Jews wanted to hear.

Remember from Ezra 4 that the Samaritans had already offered to help. But the Jews rejected their offer because they knew that God wanted a holy people to build this temple exactly as God wanted it built. So, vv. 6–7 were exactly what they Jews wanted to hear. Darius declared that no one should stick their fingers in the project or get in the way. 2^nd, he grants…

Provision (vv. 8–10): This one is huge, because the Jews were probably struggling to finance this massive project. They knew that Cyrus had said that Persia would pay for it, but they were probably nervous about asking the government for help.

What if they don’t just say no to funding but they also shut us down or get involved in a bad way? Therefore, the text gives no indication that the Jews had asked for help even though they had a legal right to funding.

As a result, they had to be elated to hear the king command Tattenai to fund entire project from the royal taxes. And it’s funny to imagine how frustrated the Samaritans must have been when they heard that their tax dollars would help fund the temple.

And notice that Darius didn’t just pay for the construction. He wants to provide everything the Jews need for their sacrifices. In fact, v. 9 includes some pretty specific details that are unique to Jewish worship. This probably means that Darius received Jewish input in how he wrote this decree. God was working in some incredible ways.

Again, imagine how amazing it must have been for the Jews to hear this decree. “The Persian Emperor is giving us exactly what we need.” God is on the move!” 3^rd, Darius granted…

Protection (vv. 11–12): Verse 11 is a great junior high boy verse, right? Darius says that if anyone interferes with the Jews, Tattenai is supposed to destroy his house and take one of the major beams in the house.

And according to Persian custom, he was supposed to sharpen the end of the large beam, essentially creating a big skewer. Then he was supposed to impale the offender on this beam. Sometimes they killed them first and sometimes they didn’t. It was pretty gruesome!

Then they would leave the body hanging on the beam for potentially days while it decayed or was eaten by birds. It was an intense and humiliating statement about what happens if you disobey the Persians. Of course, that’s what happed to Haman in the story of Esther.

And what’s incredible is that by attaching this threat to the command not to interfere with the Jews, Darius is saying that an attack against the Jews is an attack against me. He couldn’t be much stronger. So, if the Samaritans or anyone else was tempted to interfere, this was a strong deterrent.

Finally, notice again how he closes the decree (v. 12). It’s truly incredible. And imagine the response from Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the people when they heard it read. Some of them are crying, others are shouting, and still others are speechless. It’s an incredible moment.

And above all else it was a powerful testimony to the sovereignty of God. God once again proved the truth of Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is likechannels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” As powerful and intimidating as Darius surely was, he couldn’t resist God’s sovereignty even at the level of his own heart. God rules over all things.

The same is true today. The last 3 weeks, we’ve watched in horror as Vladimir Putin has tried to assert his glory and power on the world scene. But he doesn’t even rule his own heart. With a simple flick, God can turn his heart whenever he wants. And he can do the same with any other man no matter how powerful or evil he may be.

Psalm 2:4 says that when human powers shake their fist in God’s face, “He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them.” Our God is infinitely greater than any human power.

Furthermore, this decree is a powerful testimony to the faithfulness of God. I imagine that as this decree was being read, many of the Jews looked over at Haggai and Zechariah. God had promised through them that if they stepped out in faith and began to work, God would bless, and the temple would be completed. It sounded crazy. There’s no way we can do this or that the government will allow it. But God was keeping his promise.

And this decree shouted out God’s faithfulness. Against all human odds, he did exactly what he said he would do. And all of it should encourage us that we can trust God as well. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And when he makes a promise, he always fulfills it. We should give thanks this morning that our lives are in the hands of a sovereign and faithful God.

In sum, God did something incredible in moving Darius to write this decree. But God is not done. The temple still needs to be finished, so vv. 13–18 add that…

II.  God enabled Israel to build (vv. 13–18).

Darius had said his decree must be “carried out with all diligence,” and Tattenai did just that. Verse 13 says he “carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent.”

Imagine him marching back into Jerusalem several months after his first visit. Only this time he doesn’t come with soldiers, he comes with wagons of money, supplies, and big promises. He assured the Jews that he would supply whatever they needed, and otherwise, he would stay out of the way. The Jews rejoiced, and then they got to work.

Israel finished the temple (vv. 13–15). I must emphasize that there was still a lot of work to do. 4:24 said that they began working during Darius’s 2^nd year as king, and 6:15 says they didn’t finish until his 6^th year, or 516 B.C.

This was a big project, and even with the king’s help, I’m sure there were some frustrating, hard days. But v. 14 says that Haggai and Zechariah continued to encourage the people day after day. And finally, “They finished building according…”

It is curious that Artaxerxes is included because he does not come along for 50 more years (timeline). The author probably included him because he sanctioned the work of Ezra and Nehemiah. So, the author is taking a broad view of how God used these 3 Persian kings to fulfill his promises to Israel.

And notice how he emphasizes God’s sovereignty over it all. These kings were not the ultimate reason for this project. No, it was “the command of the God of Israel” that these kings obeyed. Even the most powerful men on earth must obey when God commands them to act. He is sovereign overall. Therefore, by God’s decree Israel finished the temple.

Israel restored worship (vv. 16–18). To us the numbers in v. 17 sound big. But they are very small compared to Solomon’s dedication of the 1^st He offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep (1 Kings 8:63). It’s a big difference, but that’s okay.

One other difference is that this time they offered a sin offering for each tribe. Essentially only three tribes remained—Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. But they had a vision for the entire nation. They acknowledge that the entire nation had sinned against the Lord, ad they deserved the judgment they had endured. But now they sought God’s forgiveness for the entire nation.

It was an amazing day. Think about the fact that it had been almost exactly 70 years since Israel had been able to worship God in the temple. But God was gracious and faithful despite Israel’s sin. He brought them home, and he restored their ability to draw near to him in worship. Finally, vv. 19–22 add that…

III.  God inspired Israel to worship (vv. 19–22).

The temple was dedicated in March, and these verses say that about a month later in April they observed the Passover. Yes, they had been observing the feasts ever since they set up the altar about 20 years earlier. But this was the first time in a long time that they were able to celebrate it in a rightful temple. It was a big deal.

Purity (vv. 20–21): So, vv. 20–21 emphasize that they were very careful to do this right. The priests and the Levites “purified themselves together,” and they only welcomed those who “had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations.”

These may seem like minor details, but for generations before the captivity Israel rarely was careful to follow the law precisely. Everything was polluted with paganism. The captivity was terrible, but God used it to purge Israel of idolatry, and Israel never struggled with it again. The returnees were passionate about holiness.

Joy (v. 22): So, they purified themselves, they slaughtered the Passover lamb, and then v. 22 says, they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Passover was always on the 14^th day of the 1^st month, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread followed on days 15–21. They were essentially one celebration of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.

And v. 22 emphasizes that the Jews celebrated “with joy.” Why? “For the Lord had…” It’s surprising to us that the narrator refers to Darius as the “king of Assyria” because he is Persian. But since Assyria was the first empire to rule this part of the world, it was actually quite common to refer to the Babylonian and Persian Empires as Assyrian. In fact, we even have record of the great Greek historian Herodotus doing this. So, don’t be alarmed by it.

Instead, notice what the narrator really wants to drive home as he closes out the 1^st return from captivity. Yes, Cyrus made the original decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild. And yes, Darius allowed them to complete the work.

But ultimately, all the credit goes to the Lord because he is the one who “turned the heart of the king.” The Lord is sovereign, not any human power. Therefore, the Jews rejoices not in the king but in the Lord as they observed the feast. God had done marvelous works on their behalf. So, what do we do with this. Here are 4 conclusions.

IV.  Conclusions

God is sovereign. We’ve talked about this a lot today and throughout the series. People like to believe they are in charge, and powerful people want to believe they stand on top. But God alone is sovereign.

We know this, but it is essential that we remind ourselves often because so many voices are telling us the opposite. Do not fear human powers, and do not bow to human masters. God is the ruler yet, and he turns the hearts of men wherever he wished.

God is faithful. Theologians say God is immutable. This simply means that God never changes. His character and power are constant. He doesn’t have good days and bad; no, every day he is righteous, just, and good.

And God always keeps his promises. He’s never flaky, forgetful, or finnicky. He always remembers, and he always acts. There are very few things in life that you can truly count on, but you can bank everything on the faithfulness of God. Therefore…

Trust God’s character. This begins by entrusting him with your soul and with your eternity. I probably haven’t emphasized enough the fact that Ezra 1–6 is a powerful testimony to the fact that God always keeps his redemptive promises.

Afterall, these chapters are about something a lot bigger than 42,000 people or a building. This whole process of them finishing the temple is part of God’s broader plan of bringing redemption into the world through Christ. Yes, there were some major additions eventually added, but this temple was the one Jesus visited, and he taught in its shadow.

Then Jesus died outside Jerusalem to provide salvation for all who believe on Jesus. And he will just as surely return someday to finish God’s plan to bring redemption and reconciliation to the world. So, you can trust your eternity to the gospel of Christ. If you have never been saved, believe on Jesus today, and be born again.

If you are saved, trust God’s character every single day. We all have burdens, fears, and disappointments. Whatever is weighing on you, remember that God is bigger, God is faithful (He will not abandon you), and God is good. So, trust his character.

Give thanks for God’s blessings. So, often our problem is not that God never answers our prayers and gives us good things; our problem is that we fail to see them and rejoice. One of reasons God built so many feasts into Israel’s annual cycle was to force them to remember God’s blessings, give thanks for them, and worship him for what they said about his character.

We need these disciplines also. The question is not, “Has God been faithful?” The question is, “Do I recognize his sovereign hand at work in my life, and do I give thanks his blessings.” Let’s learn from the example of Israel. See the hand of God all around you, and worship him for his grace.